Hylephobia | Fear of Materialism or Epilepsy

(hy-lu-fo-be-ah)

What is Hylephobia?

Not to be confused with “Hylophobia” (a fear of forests or wood), Hylephobia is the irrational and persistent fear of materialism or of epilepsy. Since the word roots for epilepsy are quite different, this name association seems odd, and research does not show how the term came to mean “fear of epilepsy”. On the other hand, the Greek term 'hyle' means 'movement of the spirit' and this may have provided the origin of the term as the fear of materialism. Additionally, the word 'phobia' comes from the Greek word ‘phóbos’ meaning 'fear.'

Causes of Hylephobia

Hylephobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Isolated phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well-understood, are driven by social anxiety, and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Hylephobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.

When one gets a seizure attack, he or she losses self-control and inhibition, may lose consciousness, and may cause other people around them to panic. This can cause the person to feel embarrassed and can lead to poor self-esteem. People with uncontrolled epilepsy are usually introverted and may limit their group of friends to people they know can respond with professionalism when they get an attack.

People who don’t live with the seizures personally might fear them because by observing a seizure happening, they are left feeling frightened with a hint of hopelessness. There doesn’t seem to be much that can be done to help and the seizure is both unexpected and a personal struggle.

Some might also find that a struggle with this fear in the life of another contributes to their own sense of fear. People model what they see so if a person had a relative who found this a difficult situation, it is likely they they would have similar feelings about epilepsy.